18 more stations approved for Vegas Loop transit system

The Boring Co.’s planned Vegas Loop expansion got the green light Wednesday from the Clark County Commission.

The system, which originally was planned to feature 29 miles of tunnels with 51 stations, will now add 25 miles of newly planned tunnels and 18 new stations within Clark County’s jurisdiction.

The commission approved the updated plan in a 6-1 vote Wednesday.

Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick was the no vote, citing concerns that the system won’t account for local resort corridor employees who would benefit from using the system.

“I’d be less likely to support any future expansions that didn’t take the employees into consideration,” Kirkpatrick said before voting against the expansion.

Some of the newly planned station locations include Chinatown, multiple stations at UNLV, Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road where the Oak View Arena/resort is planned, Town Square Las Vegas and Harmon Square.

The Boring Co. operates the Convention Center Loop, which transports riders between the various halls at the facility and to and from Resorts World via Tesla model vehicles. Another offshoot from the convention center to the Westgate is underway.

A sample trip between Harry Reid International Airport and the Las Vegas Convention Center would take five minutes to travel the 4.9-mile route, at a cost of $10, according to Boring Co. A sample trip between the convention center and downtown Las Vegas is pegged at $6 for a four-minute trip along the 3.6-mile route.

The system could grow even more, before any construction begins on the Vegas Loop, as Boring has plans to add more stations and tunnels in the city of Las Vegas’ jurisdiction. Some of those stations include the El Cortez, Palace Station, Symphony Park, World Market Center, Las Vegas Premium Outlets and the Medical District.

Not only do the newly added stations offer more options to riders, but they also provide redundancy for the system, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO Steve Hill told the Las Vegas Review-Journal last month.

“Sooner or later we’re going to become somewhat reliant on this form of transportation in Las Vegas,” Hill said. “If you need to do maintenance work in a tunnel, you need the ability to continue to use the system and not just shut it down because there’s something going on in one spot. It provides a lot of advantages, and the Boring Company is willing to do it under the same terms. We’re excited about that.”

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.